Coplay Names Borough Solicitor

Richard J. Haber, a partner in the Bethlehem law firm of Haber and Corriere, was named Coplay borough solicitor last night.

Haber replaces Frank Yandrisevits, who submitted his resignation in April because, he said, he could not properly serve the borough while serving as state representative from the 138th District.

Council chose Haber from among four applicants, although he was the only one interviewed. Gerald Deutsch, chairman of the Finance-law Committee, said Haber was recommended by a council member.

Haber has served as solicitor for Hellertown since 1967 and Lehigh Township (Northampton County) since 1969. He is president of the Pennsylvania State Association of Solicitors. His law partner is Donald Corriere, district attorney for Northampton County.

According to Deutsch, Haber will receive a $100 monthly retainer for attending council meetings and minor legal matters and will be paid $60 an hour for other legal work. The fees are the same as were paid to Yandrisevits.

Yandrisevits was elected state representative in 1984 and is seeking re- election this year.

Council last night approved obtaining a $32,000 loan from Merchants Bank to help pay for a new fire truck delivered last month.

The cost of the truck, a Mack pumper from George Kistler, Allentown, is $156,373, about $30,000 more than council originally anticipated.

The truck was to be paid for with $73,595 from an escrow account council has maintained for the Coplay Fire Co. and a $50,000 low-interest loan the Coplay Fire Co. obtained from the state. Council will pay off the 10-year, 2 percent loan with the $5,000 annual contribution it previously made to the escrow fund.

However, the additional money will now be provided though the bank loan and the general fund. Some money could come from the sale of the fire company's third truck, a 1958 International, but the borough received no responses to an advertisement for bids.

The fire company has said it wants to buy an equipment van with the proceeds from the old fire truck.

A parade is scheduled for May 31 to dedicate the truck and a 40-by-80-foot addition to the fire hall on Cherry Street.

Council approved the low bid of $14,105 from Charles Herman of Whitehall Township to resurface 9th Street from Chestnut to Oak. The other bids were $16,978 from Elco Paving, Bath, and $20,384 from Joseph Ciccone and Sons, Bethlehem.

Council responded to a number of complaints, agreeing to look into alleged building-code violations andwater runoff problems at the Parkway West development, a residents' complaint that her sidewalk was damaged because appropriate repair work was not done after excavation by UGI Corp. and a complaint by a 2nd Street resident that borough trees on his property have not been trimmed and are ruining his sidewalk.

Council also agreed to measure the noise level of a refrigerator unit at Pat's Ice and Beverages at 910 Chestnut St., after a neighboring resident said he would file a formal complaint with borough police.